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Texas Christmas :

Texas Christmas

Hiking the Jacumbas : The Jacumba Mountains (pronounced "Ha-cum-ba") lie in the Anza Borrego Desert Park in east San Diego County, just north of the Mexican border. The mountains are barely more than immense rock piles, comprising immense granite boulders split by solar heating and chilly desert nights and in some places polished smooth by infrequent rushing water. The mountains contain scant vegetation and fauna. Hiking in the region is physically challenging and reveals little human habitation or activity over the centuries. Traces of man can occasionally be found, however, including centuries-old morteros, or grinding bowls, pounded into huge boulders by Indian women while grinding grains and nuts into flour for their daily fare. The San Diego & Arizona Railroad, completed in 1919 by John Spreckels (of the sugar manufacturing Spreckels Family) runs through the region, and ancillary human activity is also in evidence. Such artifacts include decades-old livestock watering systems that incorporate pipelines that feed watering troughs. Here and there in these mountains are ancient, isolated groves of California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera), which are virtual living, vegetable dinosaurs from a warmer, wetter epoch.

Hiking the Jacumbas

Hiking the Jacumbas, Part 2 : In January 2007, my good friend and hiking buddy Pete and I attempted a trek from the base of the Jacumba Mountains in East San Diego County to the Goat Canyon Trestle, a well-known San Diego-area feature on the San Diego & Arizona Railroad. We called it quits at the top of the Goat Canyon drainage, seemingly only about a half-hour to an hour from the trestle, concerned that we would run out of daylight and find ourselves hiking and boulder-hopping back to the trailhead in the dark. As it turns out it was a good decision. (An account of our first adventure may be found at http://fotodon.smugmug.com/gallery/2331996)

When Pete and I tackled the hike again two months later on March 18, we discovered -- much to our surprise -- that the round-trip from the top of the Goat Canyon Drainage to the trestle took two and one-half hours, including a lunch stop. The view from our previous vantage point at the top of the drainage suggested, and we expected, a literal walk in the park, through a gently sloping valley all the way to the trestle. Thats not the way it turned out. Instead, we discovered to our great surprise that Goat Canyon, by far, was he most difficult part of the hike.

Hiking the Jacumbas, Part 2

Galleries

Rotary Low Tide Ride & Stride :

Rotary Low Tide Ride & Stride

Bike Route : Mike & Chet -- These photos are representative of the route I drove on May 2, 3 & 4. I started at the Utah line in the Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness and finished at the unincorporated town of Naco, on the Mexico border. The major towns I passed throught included Flagstaff, Payson, Globe, Winkelman, Benson, Tombstone & Bisbee. Most of the route -- except for 26 miles at the beginning and the last 45 miles into Benson -- was paved. I will note under some of the the photos the good and less good bike routes.

Hiking the Jacumbas, Part 2 : In January 2007, my good friend and hiking buddy Pete and I attempted a trek from the base of the Jacumba Mountains in East San Diego County to the Goat Canyon Trestle, a well-known San Diego-area feature on the San Diego & Arizona Railroad. We called it quits at the top of the Goat Canyon drainage, seemingly only about a half-hour to an hour from the trestle, concerned that we would run out of daylight and find ourselves hiking and boulder-hopping back to the trailhead in the dark. As it turns out it was a good decision. (An account of our first adventure may be found at http://fotodon.smugmug.com/gallery/2331996)

When Pete and I tackled the hike again two months later on March 18, we discovered -- much to our surprise -- that the round-trip from the top of the Goat Canyon Drainage to the trestle took two and one-half hours, including a lunch stop. The view from our previous vantage point at the top of the drainage suggested, and we expected, a literal walk in the park, through a gently sloping valley all the way to the trestle. Thats not the way it turned out. Instead, we discovered to our great surprise that Goat Canyon, by far, was he most difficult part of the hike.

Hiking the Jacumbas, Part 2

Texas Christmas :

Texas Christmas

Warblers at my Window : This small bird I believe to be Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla, has been appearing at the hummingbird feeder outside my office window all during January, 2007. It is about two-thirds the size of the yellow-rumped warbler, Dendroica coronata, which also has been feeding here since before Christmas, 2006, and, should it conform with previous years' visits, will continue to do so until March.

Warblers at my Window

Monty :

Hiking the Jacumbas : The Jacumba Mountains (pronounced "Ha-cum-ba") lie in the Anza Borrego Desert Park in east San Diego County, just north of the Mexican border. The mountains are barely more than immense rock piles, comprising immense granite boulders split by solar heating and chilly desert nights and in some places polished smooth by infrequent rushing water. The mountains contain scant vegetation and fauna. Hiking in the region is physically challenging and reveals little human habitation or activity over the centuries. Traces of man can occasionally be found, however, including centuries-old morteros, or grinding bowls, pounded into huge boulders by Indian women while grinding grains and nuts into flour for their daily fare. The San Diego & Arizona Railroad, completed in 1919 by John Spreckels (of the sugar manufacturing Spreckels Family) runs through the region, and ancillary human activity is also in evidence. Such artifacts include decades-old livestock watering systems that incorporate pipelines that feed watering troughs. Here and there in these mountains are ancient, isolated groves of California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera), which are virtual living, vegetable dinosaurs from a warmer, wetter epoch.

Hiking the Jacumbas

Red Ivy :

Jen & Tavo's Civil Ceremony : As a precursor to the ceremonial and lavish church wedding scheduled for October 28 in Mexico, Jennifer and Gustavo married legally and officially at the County of San Diego's Administrative Building on October 17, 2006. Only the parents of the newlyweds, the bride's brother, Geoff, and Cinnamon, one of Jen's long-time friends, witnessed the ceremony. As you can see, the event was very casual. In fact, the presiding official wore sneakers!

Jen & Tavo's Civil Ceremony

Jen's shower :

Mt. Whitney & The Alabama Hills :

Mt. Whitney & The Alabama Hills

June Lake Loop :

Bodie - A California Ghost Town :

Bodie - A California Ghost Town

Terns at the Post :

Terns at the Post

Egrets :

Lauren & Pogey :

Charlie Boy :

Unidentified Dogs :

Unidentified Dogs

Scott & Zoey :

Murphy :

Monty :

Surf Dog Small Wave Competition : In August ’06, 29 “ruff riders” hit the boards to determine which surf dog was the gnarliest, burliest and most tubular pooch ever to surf the Imperial Beach waves. Mutts and purebred canines duked it out on long boards, each getting three chances to impress a panel of professional surf instructors on confidence, length of ride and style. Pups that could grip it and rip it were numerous and the competition was fierce. In the end, smaller dogs prevailed, while larger dogs tended to wipe out. First place went to a Jack Russell Terrier named Zoey; second place to a Fox Terrier named Murphy and third place to a poodle-bichon frise mix named Pogey. Check out all the dogs whose waves didn’t close out too soon.

Surf Dog Small Wave Competition

The Coronado Calendar, 2007 : Each of these photos is found in the 2007 edition of The Coronado Calendar. To order one or more copies of the calendar, please go to www.thecoronadocalendar.com.

The Coronado Calendar, 2007

That's My Dog! : Coronado's North (Dog) Beach is a great place to exercise your dog or let him socialize with other pooches. Here are a few of the fortunate dogs whose thoughtful masters brought them to the beach.

South Bay Birds -- Fall : The South San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot year round to observe and to photograph many varieties of waterfowl. These photographs represent some of the many species that frequent the Refuge during the fall. Two species of pelicans, two species of egrets, great blue herons, several tern species as well as gulls and various other species of wading shorebirds and ducks congregate here during this season.

South Bay Birds -- Fall

Blue Angels :

Patriots Jet Team :

Patriots Jet Team

MIG-17 :

Army's Golden Knights :

Army's Golden Knights

A-10 Warthog :

Helicopters :

Static Displays :

Static Displays

Miscellaneous Aircraft :

Miscellaneous Aircraft

Coronado Classic Speed Festival : During Fleet Week in San Diego, an annual event, the Coronado Classic Speed Festival occurs at North Island Naval Air Station. The Festival, open to the public, boasts hundreds of classic cars on display, static displays of military hardware and numerous vendors' booths, and culminates with 8 races of different classed cars, from pre-1942 sports and racing cars to 1966-1972 "muscle" cars.

Coronado Classic Speed Festival

Collage :

Motorcars 2005 : Each April, an antique car show comes to my home town. Here are a few fun photos of the amazing antique vehicles that are displayed at each show.

Motorcars 2006 : Each April, an antique car show comes to my home town. Here are a few more fun photos from this amazing event.

Chico Wedding :

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